pringly wrote:
Is it true that Godzilla was not originally suppose to be in Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster? I think I remember reading somewhere that King Kong was suppose to be the giant shrimps nemesis, but TOHO could not secure the rights.
That's true. Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster was originally suppose to be Operation Robinson Crusoe - King Kong vs Ebirah. My understanding is that what happen was that Toho and Rankin/Bass couldn't reach an agreement on who should direct. Rankin/Bass wanted Honda and Tsuburaya for the picture while Toho wanted Fukuda and Arikawa. Eventually the project collapsed but Toho cannalbalized it and made Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster.

Apparently they didn't actually bother changing the script that much because there a few elements that don't quit add up. One is Godzilla's apparent interest in actress
Kumi Mizuno another is that he is awaken and draws energy from lightening which was something that Kong did in King Kong vs. Godzilla but which Godzilla himself had never done. Of course I've also heard that the reason Kong is strengthed by lightening is because he was originally suppose to be Toho's Frankenstein Monster - that's right Frankenstein vs. Godzilla.

I'm guessing August and the others can either confirm or deny all this...